Overhead Cable

[Luke]

Option 2,

Will one of these even fit into your structure?

 

[ryanj]

Luke: I don't think it would.

What about Option 3, solar...

 

[ryanj]

Would it be OK to run SWA overhead, with any catenary wires?

And i've decided to go with a 20amp breaker, and 2.5mm2 wire going to the outbuilding, is this OK to power what I want? (Garden Tools, Lights?)

 

[breezer]

it would, so long as you have a fused spur to tun the lights (or you could put in a small consumers unit)

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I've recently removed a supply cable to my garage ('cos I was having pebbledashing done on the house) - it was normal T/E, which exited the house via an airbrick at ground level, went up and along the wall held on by normal cable clips, and then across to the garage on a catenary wire.

It was not 12' off the ground, it was not protected, and it was not installed by me. The outer jacket was definitely degrading - but it had been out there in the open for at least 15 years.

The garage is due to come down soon-ish (less than a 12-month), so I don't want to go overboard when I reconnect the garage for now - I plan to use PVC conduit with 6491X singles inside (MUCH easier to pull through conduit than T/E - I wouldn't even think about trying that).

Next year when the new outbuilding(s) go up I'll be using SWA cable, underground.

 

[breezer]

actually its not as bad as you may think. if you bend the end of the t & e right over and squash it flat with pliers usually goes through.

but as you are running singles dont forget one for the earth

 

[ryanj]

I see lots of people just run T/E overhead, is using SWA overhead just overkill? Should I just stick with T/E?

 

[breezer]

NO. if you search these forums you will find why you shouldn't use t & e

you will see it because they know no better (yet)

the answer is because t & e will degrade, and split over time. swa is made to take bumps temp change etc t & e isnt

 

[ban-all-sheds]

actually its not as bad as you may think. if you bend the end of the t & e right over and squash it flat with pliers usually goes through.

but as you are running singles dont forget one for the earth

Well - I've got 9 or 10 90-degree bends to negotiate, in different planes, and I just know that somewhere the T/E will kink. Even though I won't actually be pulling the wires through the assembled run of conduit, but instead will be pushing the lengths of conduit, bends etc over the wires as I go, I still think singles will make my life easier.

 

[breezer]

you are supposed to use a draw tape to put through after you have put the conduit up. screwfix sell them

 

[ban-all-sheds]

"supposed"?

Why?

If I assemble the conduit by threading each length, coupler and bend in turn over the wires, am I doing anything wrong?

Unusual, maybe. Unnecessary, perhaps (but I've had cable-pulling go bad on me before).

But not supposed to? Surely not.....

 

[breezer]

perhaps i should have said impossible, but then i was thinking of steel conduit, never done as you propose with plastic, always put it up first

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Ah well - I'll know one way or the other in a few weeks....